Preface to the first edition
Romain Rolland
How heavy is the air around us. The boss's Europa is unconscious in an atmosphere of heavy turbidity and corruption. Vulgar materialism suppresses ideas and hinders the actions of the government and individuals. Society suffocates in cunning and humble selfishness, and human beings cannot breathe. Open the window! Let the free air come back! Take a breath of hero.
Life is full of suffering. For those who are unwilling to be mediocre, it is an endless struggle, often tragic, without glory and happiness, but a struggle in loneliness and silence. Poverty, daily troubles and heavy and stupid work weigh on them and consume their energy uselessly. There is no hope, no light of joy, and most of them are isolated from each other. They don't even have the comfort of helping their brothers in trouble. They didn't know each other existed. They can only rely on themselves, but sometimes even the strongest people can't help stumbling in suffering. They asked for help and a friend.
In order to help them, I gathered some heroic friends around them, some great souls who suffered for good. These "biographies of celebrities" are not for the pride of careerists, but for the victims. Who is not the victim? Let's dedicate the sacred pain ointment to the people who are suffering! We are not alone in this battle. The light of truth illuminates the darkness of the world. Even today, around us, we can see two purest flames shining, justice and freedom: Bigazzo and Pu 'er nationality. Even if they didn't sweep away the thick darkness, at least they showed us the direction in an instant. Follow them, follow those people who are scattered in various countries and at all ages and struggle alone. Let's destroy the barrier of time and regenerate the hero's race.
The hero I am talking about is not a person dominated by ideas or power; But a man with a great heart. . It seems that one of the greatest people, whose life we want to describe, said, "I don't recognize any superior marks except kindness." Without great character, there would be no great people, not even great artists and great actors; Are just empty idols, matching vulgar souls; Time will destroy them all. What does success or failure matter? The most important thing is to be great, not to appear great.
The lives of people in these biographies are almost always long-term suffering or tragic fate, which makes their souls grind their hands in physical and mental suffering and exercise on the anvil of poverty and disease; Or, witnessing the nameless humiliation and disaster of compatriots, people are devastated, their hearts are broken, and they live a hard life all their lives; Although they became great because of persistence, they also became great because of disaster. Such an unfortunate person! Don't complain too much, the best molecules of mankind are with you. Draw on their courage and become our nourishment; If we are too weak, let our heads rest on their knees for a while. They will comfort us. In these sacred hearts, there is a clear power and strong love that flies out like a torrent. You don't even need to inquire about their works or listen to their voices. In their eyes and stories, you can see that life has never been so great, so full and so happy as when you are in trouble.
In this heroic team, I gave the chief to the strong and pure Beethoven. In the pain, he also hopes that his example can support other victims. "I hope that unfortunate people will try to be a valuable person and masturbate when they see the unfortunate victims like him, regardless of natural obstacles." After years of struggle and hard work, Superman overcame his sufferings and completed his great cause of "boasting courage to poor humans". The victorious hero replied to a friend who mentioned God to him, "Oh, man, help yourself!"
1 He is short and bloated, with a strong appearance and an athlete's skeleton. A wide khaki face didn't become morbid and yellow until his later years, especially in winter, when he was kept indoors and away from the fields. Frontal eminence uplift, extremely wide. Black hair, unusually thick, like a comb that has never been combed, hangs upside down everywhere, like a "snake on Medusa's head." . There was a strange power burning in his eyes, which shocked everyone who saw him; But most people can't tell the difference between them. Because on the brown and tragic face, these eyes emit a wild light, so everyone always thinks it is black; It's actually gray-blue. Usually small and deep, when excited or angry, they just open and rotate in their eyes, which wonderfully reflects their true thoughts. He often stares at the sky with melancholy eyes. The wide nose is short and square, but it is actually like a lion. A delicate mouth, but the lower lip tends to protrude forward more than the upper lip. The gums are very strong, as if they can chew walnuts. There is a deep pit in his left chin, which makes his face look strangely asymmetrical. According to Moseles Moscheles, 1794- 1870), the British pianist said, "His smile is beautiful, and there is an air that is often lovely and pleasant between conversations. But on the other hand, his smile is unpleasant, rude, ugly and short-lived ",which is the smile of a person who is not used to joy. His usual expression is melancholy, showing "an incurable sadness". 1825, Resta said that when he saw "his gentle eyes and his intense pain", he needed to try his best to stop the tears.
2. "... how I wish you could be by my side forever! Your Beethoven is poor. You should know that my noblest part, my hearing, has greatly declined. When we were together, I felt a lot of symptoms. I didn't say them, but they got worse and worse ... Will they be cured? I certainly hope so, but the hope is slim; There is no cure for this disease. I have to live a miserable life and avoid all the people I love, especially in this poor and selfish world! ..... I have to find shelter in the forbearance of sadness! Although I vowed to transcend these evils, how is it possible? "
3. "Monarchs and officials can make friends with professors and confidential counsellors as much as possible and reward them with titles and medals; But they can't create great people, and they can't create hearts beyond vulgar society ... and when I am with two people like Goethe, such a gentleman should feel our greatness. Yesterday, we met all the members of the royal family on our way home. We saw it from a distance. Goethe broke free from my arm and stood by the road. I told him all my words in vain, and I couldn't let him go any further. So I pressed a hat, buttoned my coat, put my hands behind my back and looked at the densest crowd. The prince and the near minister are closely related; Prince Rudolph took off his hat to salute me; The queen greeted me first-all the adults and gentlemen knew me. For fun, I watched this group of people pass by Goethe. He stood on the side of the road, deeply bent, with a hat in his hand. I taught him a lesson greatly afterwards, and I'm welcome to him ... "
4. "Dear Beethoven! Many people have praised his artistic greatness, but he is far more than the first musician, but the most heroic force of modern art. He is the greatest and best friend of all those who suffer and struggle. When we are sad for the disaster in the world, he will come to our side, as if sitting next to a mourning mother, saying nothing, singing his forbearing sad song on the piano to comfort those who cry. When we resist the vulgarity of good and evil against the tired Guang Chen and immerse ourselves in this ocean of will and belief, we will gain unspeakable benefits. He gave us a kind of courage, a kind of struggle happiness ... "
The second paragraph of the commentary is Beethoven's letter to his friend Reverend Amante. Deafness is an irreparable disaster for musicians, which not only affects their work, but also makes them live a lonely and desolate life from now on, and may also be slandered by their enemies. This passage sums up all the pain caused by Beethoven's deafness, from which he deeply realized the pity and selfishness of the world.
In the third paragraph, Beethoven wrote about walking with Goethe and meeting the royal family. Among them, "carrying hands behind one's back" and "knocking against one's back" are very vivid descriptions, vividly showing his indifferent attitude towards kingship, family and country, and most intensively showing Beethoven's rebellious character. Of course, Beethoven and Goethe are different, so we should make a comprehensive analysis when comparing them.
The fourth paragraph is the last paragraph of Beethoven's biography, which is the summary of this part. Beethoven's greatness lies not only in that he is the most outstanding musician, but also in that his music is written for the suffering people. He restrained his pain, but he comforted people with the happiness he bought from his pain and gave them courage and strength. This passage summarizes the essence of Beethoven's music.